Best Ice Cream Makers

Nothing's sweeter in summertime than whipping up your own ice cream. An ice cream maker lets you control the quality of the ingredients  and experiment with recipes. You can forget the old-fashioned hand-cranked rock-salt-and-ice machines. The latest ice cream makers rely on a bowl-like insert (stashed in the freezer for up to 24 hours before you use it) and the flip of a switch; dessert is ready in about a half hour. Pricier ones have built-in compressors  like a refrigerator's  which eliminate the need to plan ahead. (For more on which type is right for you, be sure to check out our ice cream maker shopping tips.)

Portable Pro

The diminutive Hamilton Beach 68660 ($25, amazon.com) is battery-powered — fun for bringing dessert prep outdoors. It does a particularly nice job on sorbet, which came out smooth and thick. The downside: It makes only three servings.

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